Organisations need to minimise costs, and one way of doing this is through their logistics team. Logistics professionals are found working across a variety of sectors and can work within a number of stages of the logistics process, from inbound logistics (sourcing, transportation and storage of incoming materials) to outbound (storage of finished products and distribution). Travel and transport is a huge area within logistics too.
Professional sectors within logistics include supply chain, transport planning, rail, active travel and travel planning, bus and coach, ports and maritime waterways, freight forwarding and aviation.
There are many graduate schemes within logistics across a whole variety of sectors, so opportunities are broad. Qualification wise, employers would expect a good undergraduate degree, and might encourage you to work towards a CILT qualification (ranging from level 1 to 6). With the qualification and experience behind you, you can look forward to a long career with good progression opportunities.
Market conditions
The logistics market conditions are largely affected by the level of manufacturing in the retail and consumer goods industry. Analysing consumer demand and spending can help to indicate the growth of and manpower required in the logistics sector. Reduced demand during the economic downturn has had a negative effect on the shipping industry, whilst fluctuating oil prices and changes in environmental policies continue to influence other forms of transportation, essential in the supply chain process.
However, there is currently optimism within the sector as consumer spending is increasing, influencing manufacturing demand and the need for logistics professionals. At present the UK is experiencing a slow recovery, keeping forecasts for the logistics employment market fairly positive. The outlook for this important sector will improve even further with successful emerging markets (BRICs) and even further still once the Eurozone crisis eases.
Job roles
Before targeting specific job roles it would be advisable for you to consider the sector in which you would like to work. There are many benefits to being more sector targeted; your job search will be more specific so more effective and you will begin to learn more about your preferred sector, allowing you to learn about what is going on in your sector (commercial awareness). The roles and responsibilities for a job with the same title will differ from organisation to organisation and sector to sector, but the following gives an overview of the types of responsibilities you might have.
Logistics or distribution manager
The manager role will involve coordinating a number of staff, whilst ensuring the smooth running and economic efficiency of the company’s logistics. The logistics manager will look after the strategy of the incoming, outgoing, storage, transportation and sourcing of materials and products. Within this role you will ensure processes are optimised, to ensure minimal monetary loses; this includes processes within the company and also with any third parties used. The manager will be required to have good communication skills to work with colleagues, outside contractors and customers.
Logistics administrator
Supports the manager with the inbound and outbound logistics of a company. They would have to manage materials and ensure that those incoming are booked into the warehouse, checking the quality as they go. They may have to manage invoices, ensure times are kept to and deal with delivery notes. They would be expected to use computer programmes to keep track of these duties. At the other end of the process they would have to manage all outgoing products too.
Useful links
Routes in
Logistics are essential across many sectors, so you would be advised to begin your job search by considering the sector in which you wish to work. This will help you to reduce your search area, allowing you to become more focused and enabling you to gain commercial awareness for your sector. As well as entering the profession through entry level advertised positions, there are also a number of graduate schemes available.
Internships
Specifically in logistics there are few internships, although you will more in supply chain and procurement. Consider other avenues for gaining work experience in logistics, such as writing a speculative application to a small or mid size organisation to see if you can work for them over the summer, for a couple of weeks or even one day a week during term time.
Graduate training schemes
There are many graduate training schemes in logistics, including within transport organisations, FMCGs, retailers and publishers. Look on the careers pages of any larger organisations you are interested in to find details of any graduate schemes they offer.
For more graduate schemes see Inside Careers, Prospects and employers’ websites. Visit our resource centre to pick up copies of the Times top 100 graduate employers, The Guardian UK 300 and TARGETjobs which list employers with graduate vacancies.
You can also search LSE CareerHub for graduate jobs and find organisations who are coming on to campus to recruit LSE graduates.
Advertised positions
You do not have to be a graduate to enter the logistics market, so there are many positions advertised as and when businesses need the staff. Many graduate entry-level positions will be advertised on an ad-hoc basis too. Visit the following specialist logistics websites for vacancies:
Recruitment agencies
Before approaching a recruitment agency, please read our advice on how to get the most from the interaction. See recruitment agencies: the basics.
- Cast UK
Procurement, supply chain and logistics recruitment agency
- Supply chain recruitment
Recruitment agency and consultancy specialising in executive and management level purchasing, logistics and supply chain recruitment.
- Werving & Selectie
Dutch recruitment firm for the logistics field. It offers temporary jobs for managers, planners and supply chain coordinators
Resources
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK)
CILT is the independent professional body for individuals associated with logistics, supply chains and all transport throughout their careers. Has a particularly useful careers section.
- Delivering your future
Basic but useful information about careers in logistics. Particularly good for someone just starting their job search or wanting preliminary information about careers in logistics.
- Humanitarian logistics association
Individual membership association for humanitarian logistics professionals committed to increase humanitarian logistics effectiveness.
- Skills for logistics
Sector Skills Council for the UK's freight logistics industries. Useful information on careers and qualifications in supply chain, transport and logistics.
- TARGETjobs: Logistics and transport
Graduate information website. This page in particular gives information about careers in logistics.
- The Job Crowd - Transport, Logistics and Distribution
Transport & distribution reviews, salaries, interview tips, jobs, the top transport companies and more – based on thousands of reviews posted anonymously by graduates working in transport and distribution.
Links to external sites
Some of the links on this page are imported from our Diigo social bookmarking account. You can view all our links directly on our Diigo site. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on our website and to update it regularly, LSE cannot be held responsible for the content on external websites.